Die box for wire drawing machines



April 8, 1941. v K. B. LEWES DIE BOX FOR WIRE DRAWING MACHINES fig-Z Filed May 3, 1959 INVENTOR. KENNETH B AEW/S BY M ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DIE BOXFOR WIRE DRAWING MACHINES Kenneth B. Lewis, Worcester, Mesa, minor to The Acme-Standard Engineering Company, Youngstown, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application m 3, 1939, Serial No. 271,541 4 Claims. ((1205-25) This invention relates to die boxes for wire drawing machines and ageneral object of the invention is to provide a simple and sturdy box for supporting the die of a wire drawing machine in such a manner that the alignment of the die orifice with respect to the path of thewire can be easily adjusted, and in which the die cannot be accidentally displaced from the position to which it is adjusted.

Another object of my invention is to provide a die box adapted to retain a quantity of lubricant in contact with the wire and the die and to prevent any substantial losses of the lubricant. Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description cfa preferred form thereof reference bein made tethdaccompanying drawing. The essehtial characteristics are summarized in the claims. f

In the drawing Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating a die box made according to a preferred form of my invention mounted on the bench of a wire drawing machine. Figure 2 is a longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, through the die box and die shown in Figure 1, as indicated by the line 2-2 on Figure 1. Figure 3 is an end elevation showing my die box with the die removed therefrom. Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the die supporting and adjusting means embodied in my die box. v

As shown in the drawing a die box made in accordance with a preferred iorm ot my invention may comprise a casting having a base portion adapted to be rigidly secured to a drawing bench H as by cap screws l2. Upwardly end walls 26 and 21, the side wall l1 and the side wall 2!.

In order to support the die or die holder 30 in accurate relationship to the line of travel of the wire 'W I have rovided a die receptacle or support 3! positioned beyond the slot IS in the wall of the grease box and open at the top so that the die can be easily inserted therein. The die support 3! is formedlby the base member l0, vertical side walls 32 and I3 and end wall 34 having a slot 35 through which the drawn wire passes;

As shown particularly in Figure 1 the die box is mounted on the machine with its longitudinal axis in the line of travel of the wire that is with 'its center line directed toward the fillet of the drawing block or drum 3G. The alignment of the orifice o! the die; with reference to the line of draft and the fillet of the block or drum must .be accurately controlled in order to carry out the amount and .kind of adjustment is left to the skill of the wire drawer and it is essential to extending end walls It and I5 and side walls It and I1 define a receptacle or box through which the wire W passes and which is adapted to retain a considerable supply oilubricating mate as required. In order to provide a convenient place for spare dies or tools, a receptacle 25 is provided opposite .the upwardly extending wall IS, the receptacle 25 being formed by the vertical efficient operation of wire drawing machines that such adjustments be rapidly and easily made and that the die be held firmly in its adjusted position.

In order to provide for convenient adjustment of the alignment of the die with respect to the line of draft of the wire I have provided set screws 4|! and ii disposed in the base of the receptacle -3l upon which the die 30 rests. By adjusting the set screws 40 and 4| the die orifice can be conveniently raised or lowered or the die can be rotated slightly about. its central axis. In operation the tension on the wire pulls the die 30 toward the end wall 34. In order to provide for universal adjustment of the alignment of the orifice of the die, the end wall 34 is tapped to receive four set screws 42, 43, M and 45. As indicated particularly in Figure 2 the end face of the die in bears against the rounded ends of the set screws, so that by adjustment of the set screws the alignment of the orifice can be readily and accurately adjusted in any direction to secure the desired cast of the drawn wire.

In order to prevent the die from chattering and particularly to prevent the die from being moved backwardly when the die block is stopped and the tension on the wire released I preferably provide a set screw 50, threaded in the wall 33, and adapted to engage the side of the die to clamp the die against the projections 5| and 52 formed on the inner surface of the wall 32.

In my die box, which is rigidly mounted on the draw bench, the die may be dropped into place without any particular care being required. The rigid mounting of the die box insures that the die will produce nearly the correct cast upon initial operation and required adjustments can be made quickly and easily by manipulation of the screws 4|, 42, 43, 44 and 45. After the desired adjustments have been made the die may be clamped in position by the set screw 50 which retains the die against displacement when the die block is stopped and tension on the wire released. The adjustments can be made accurately and rapidly and the adjustments so made will remain permanently set during the life of the die.

Die boxes made according to my invention are adapted to retain a considerable quantity of lubricant and because of the fact that my die boxes are provided with openings in the top to receive the dies rather than openings at the sides, the lubricant is efiectively retained within the box and waste of lubricant is prevented. Die boxes made according to my invention can be manufactured economically and are of simple, sturdy and durable construction.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and changes can be made in my invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Therefore it is to be understood that my patent is not limited to the preferred form of die box described by way of example herein, or in any manner other than by the scope of the appended claims when given the range of equivalents to which my patent may be entitled. I

I claim:

1. In a wire drawing machine having a bench, a die box rigidly attached to the bench and having its longitudinal axis substantially aligned with the path of the wire, said box being open at its top and having an opening adapted to receive a die, and means including screws mounted in the bottom of said box and screws mounted in an end wall of said box and engaging said die for adjusting the die with respect to the path of the wire.

2. In a wire drawing machine having a bench, a die box rigidly attached to the bench and having its longitudinal axis substantially aligned with the path of the wire, said box being open at its top and having an opening adapted to receive a die, means including screws in the bottom of said box and screws in an end wall of said box for adjusting the position of the die with respect to the path of the wire, and means for holding the die in its adjusted position.

3. In a wire drawing machine having a bench, a die box rigidly attached to the bench and having its longitudinal axis aligned with the path of the wire, said box being open at its top and having an opening adapted to receive a die, screws mounted in an end wall of said box and engaging said die for adjusting the die with respect to the path of the wire, said die being urged against said screws by the wire passing therethrough and a set screw mounted in a side wall of said box and engaging said die for holding the die in its adjusted position.

4. In a wire drawing machine having a bench and a wire drawing block, a ,die box rigidly mounted on said bench with its longitudinal axis tangent to said block, said die box having continuous side walls and end walls each having a small vertical slot through which the wire passes through the box, said box being open at its top and having a first compartment adjacent the entrance end of the box for holding a lubricant and a second compartment adjacent the exit end of the box adapted to support a die, screws engaging said die for adjusting the height and alignment of the die with respect to said box and the path of the wire therethrough, and screw means for securing said die in adjusted position.

KENNETH B. LEWIS. 

